Lumberman&#39;s rule



April 30, 1957 H. o. VAN TUYLE LUMBERMANS RULE Filed Nov. 21, 1955 herbert OitoVan Tz yle ATTORNEY United States Patent LUMBERMANS RULE Herbert Otto Van Tuyle, Middlesboro, Ky. Application November 21, 1955, Serial No. 547,933

3 Claims. (Cl. 33-107) The present invention relates to a lumbermans rule and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

In the inspection and grading of lumber, the present practice is to utilize a standard thirty-six inch board rule which is approximately one and one-quarter inches in width and which is provided upon either side with indicia denoting the exact number of board feet in a particular board. The indicia extends about thirty inches along the rule and the remaining six inches are taken up as a handle or gripping portion to be held in one hand of the inspector. At that end of the rule remote from such handle portion there is provided a pair of diamond pointed metal gripping members which are utilized by the inspector to pull and turn over the boards which he is inspecting to determine the grade of such board upon each side thereof. The pointed members are struck into the edge portions of such boards to accomplish this purpose. In warm weather, due to sweating of the hands, when the inspector attempts to pull upon the rule, it often happens that the rule will pull out of the inspectors grip. In cold weather, it is impossible for the inspector to use gloves due to the fact that in attempting to pull upon the rule, the same will slip from the gloved hand.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which may be quickly and easily attached to the handle portion of a lumbermans rule and which will permit the user to secure a firm and complete grip upon such rule regardless of the temperature and also regardless of the fact that the user may be wearing gloves.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, a novel gripping mechamsm.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, a novel finger grip.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, a novel thumb-receiving portion.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention shown in position upon a lumbermans rule,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of the device illustrated in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the device illustrated in Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is showntherein a lumbermans rule having the customary indicia 11 thereon and provided at opposite sides adjacent one end thereof with diamond-tipped points 12/ The device comprising the presentinvention is mounted at that end portion of the rule 10 remote from the.

points 12 and'it consists of an inner socket member 13 adapted to closely embrace the rule 10 and an outer socket member 14 adapted to closely embrace the inner socket member 13.

By referring to Figure 4' of the drawing, it will be seen that the inner socket member 13 is U-shaped in cross sectional area and is composed of a bight portion 15 having upwardly extending legs 16 which terminate in inwardly directed flanges 17 while the outer socket member 14 is of inverted U-shape in cross sectional area and presents its bight portion 18 over the flanges 17 and is provided with downwardly directed legs 19 which terminate in inwardly directed flanges 20 which embrace the bight portion 15 of the inner socket member.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing, it will be apparent that the sides of the inner socket member taper inwardly toward the rear end thereof while the inner faces of the outer socket member 14 taper outwardly toward the rear thereof thus giving a wedging acmounted upon one end of the rule 10 by first placing the inner socket member 13 on the end portion of the rule 10 and thereafter sliding the outer socket member 14 thereover. It will also be apparent that any pull placed upon the finger grip member 13 will cause the inner faces of the member 14 to wedge against the outer faces of the member 13 to thus securely grip the rule 10, it being further apparent that the greater such outward pull upon the member 13 with reference to the rule 10, the greater will be the gripping action of the device upon the rule. It will likewise be seen that the thumb-receiving member 24 will assist the user of the device in properly positioning the rule with respect to the lumber being inspected and handled so that the user may easily direct the points 12 to their proper position when the same are being used to grip and turn boards being inspected.

While but oneform of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the artthat many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention 7 means in said socket members for gripping said end por-' tion of said rule, said means comprising rearwardly and inwardly tapering outer faces on said inner socket member, and rearwardly and outwardly tapering inner faces on said outer socket member. s

2. A- device as defined in claim 1 wherein a thumb-receiving member is connected to the rear of said outer socket member, and wherein a finger grip member is affixed to the rear of said inner socket member in opposed relation to said thumb-receiving member.

a 3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said rule is rectangularin cross sectional area, and wherein each of said socket members'is U-shaped in cross sectional area and provided with a bight portion, a pair of legs, and an v 'inturned'flange formed at the'free end of each leg.

' References 'Citedinthe 'fileof patent UNITED SIATESTPATE'NTS V 222,125 Brady Dec. 2. 1879 2,343,168 Bickle Feb. 29, 1944, 

